good! snacks
Birthday
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A vegan, gluten‑free bar that leans unapologetically dessert‑like—cake flavor, real sprinkles—while delivering 15g of plant protein and zero sugar alcohols.
When to choose good! snacks Birthday
Reach for it when you want a sweet, dairy‑free protein boost with quick energy—before a workout, between meetings, or as a treat‑ish snack that isn’t artificially sweetened.
What's in the good! snacks bar?
Meet good! snacks’ Birthday Protein Bar: a vegan, gluten‑free slice of cake‑nostalgia built on a plant protein duo of fava bean and brown rice.
The macros tell a story—15g of protein lands right around average for bars, while the carbs run high (think quick energy) thanks to tapioca syrup and cane sugar, tempered a bit by soluble tapioca fiber.
Fat stays modest at 6g, coming mostly from almond and peanut butters plus a touch of high‑oleic sunflower oil, with palm kernel oil used for structure.
No vitamin fortification here; the celebratory look and flavor come from “sprinkles” made with gum arabic and naturally derived colors (spirulina, red cabbage, turmeric, radish) and a dose of natural flavors.
- Protein
- 15 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Carbohydrates
- 31 g
- Sugar
- 10 g
- Calories
- 210
Protein
1515MIDProtein here comes from a blend of fava bean and brown rice proteins—two plant sources that complement each other’s amino‑acid gaps better than either one alone. At 15g, it’s a solid, dairy‑free, soy‑free dose for everyday use, with digestibility that’s generally good for plant concentrates. Expect steadier fullness than a carb‑only snack, even if it won’t absorb quite as quickly as whey.
Fat
69LOWWith 6g total fat, the bar stays on the leaner side. Most of that comes from almond and peanut butters and high‑oleic sunflower oil—fats that skew monounsaturated—while palm kernel oil (a more saturated, firming fat) helps the bar hold shape. The result is a light touch of fat for texture without a heavy, oily feel.
Carbs
3120HIGHCarbs come mainly from refined sources—tapioca syrup (a fast‑acting glucose syrup) and cane sugar—blended with soluble tapioca fiber, a processed fiber made from cassava that helps blunt the spike a bit. That mix tilts toward quick energy rather than the slow burn you’d get from oats or sweet potato. If you’re grabbing it pre‑workout or between meetings, expect ‘on’ quickly and ‘off’ sooner.
Sugar
104HIGHThe 10g of sugar is primarily from tapioca syrup and cane sugar—added sugars rather than fruit. There are no sugar alcohols or intense artificial sweeteners here; vegetable glycerin adds mild sweetness and moisture but isn’t counted as sugar. Net: a classic sweet profile, cleaner than artificial sweeteners but not low‑sugar.
Calories
210210MIDAt 210 calories, this sits near the middle of the pack. Most of the energy comes from carbohydrates, with protein in second place and relatively little from fat. In practice, it eats like a quick‑fuel bar with a meaningful protein assist, rather than a higher‑fat meal replacement.
Vitamins & Minerals
There aren’t standout vitamins or minerals over 10% DV. The small bump in iron (6% DV) likely comes from the fava/rice protein blend, and sodium (9% DV) reflects a pinch of salt and processing. Think of this as a protein-and-energy bar, not a fortified multivitamin in disguise.
Additives
A handful of refined helpers keep the bar soft and stable: soluble tapioca fiber (a processed, digestion‑resistant fiber) binds, vegetable glycerin keeps moisture, and sunflower lecithin (an emulsifier from sunflower seeds) smooths texture. Natural flavors fine‑tune the ‘birthday cake’ note, while gum arabic and plant‑based colors make the sprinkles pop. It’s not a minimalist, whole‑food‑only list, but there are no artificial colors or sugar alcohols.
Ingredient List
Fava beans (Vicia faba)
Brown rice grain
Cassava root starch
Cassava starch
Sugarcane stalks
Oil palm fruit
Ground roasted almonds
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Sunflower seeds
Sunflower seeds
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Good snacks are my favorite and are so slept on!!”
Main Praise
Taste is the headline. Reviewers across Amazon and Reddit keep calling good!
snacks a sleeper hit, and a surprising number say it’s their favorite vegan bar because it actually tastes good, not just “tolerable. ” The Birthday flavor plays to that strength with a soft, chewy bite and a frosting‑leaning finish that reads like dessert without the afterbite of sugar alcohols.
Day‑to‑day fans appreciate the consistency: 15 grams of plant protein at around 210 calories, and a texture that doesn’t require a jaw workout. Healthline likewise frames it as the dessert‑adjacent option that still checks the core boxes for a vegan, gluten‑free snack.
If you’ve tried the usual suspects and found them chalky or bitter, this one tends to win over that crowd.
Main Criticism
Sweetness is the sticking point.
A chunk of middle‑star reviews say the coating tastes very sweet, sometimes too sweet, and a few note a grainy or slightly chalky feel—especially when the bar is older or warm.
Minimalist Baker’s team landed lukewarm on flavor accuracy in other varieties, and a couple of Amazon reviewers call out a processed or bean‑leaning aftertaste.
From a nutrition angle, detractors point to the 31g of carbs, 10g of which are added sugars, and the inclusion of palm kernel oil for structure—ingredients some shoppers prefer to minimize.
In short: dessert‑first flavor means you’re trading toward quick energy rather than a slow‑burn, whole‑food profile.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right—the “tastes like candy” super‑fans or the “too sweet and a bit processed” skeptics? Both, honestly.
This bar is designed to taste like cake, and it does; if you want subtle, it’s not that. The upside of that approach is real: no sugar alcohols or intense artificial sweeteners, which many people find easier on digestion and flavor.
The trade‑off is classic added sugars and a fast‑acting tapioca syrup base, which drive that quick‑on energy curve. Minimalist Baker wanted brighter, more natural‑tasting flavors; plenty of Amazon reviewers, like SCUR and Darlene, counter that the candy‑bar vibe is exactly what makes them come back daily.
And while Proteinbar. com calls it “pretty much a candy bar,” the 15g of plant protein and modest 6g of fat do pull it back toward functional snack territory.
If your priority is taste‑first vegan protein without sugar alcohols, Redditor Responsible_Jury_289’s enthusiasm makes sense; if you’re chasing the leanest macros or ultra‑minimal ingredients, you’ll have quibbles.
What's the bottom line?
snacks’ Birthday Protein Bar is a dessert‑leaning vegan pick that delivers on flavor, texture, and convenience. You get 15g of fava‑and‑rice protein, 210 calories, and a soft chew that reads like a treat, with no sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners. The cost of that candy‑bar charm is a carb‑forward profile and a sweetness level that won’t suit everyone.
morale boost, it makes sense. For a slow, steady burn or a minimalist ingredient list, you may want a different tool for the job. A few notes before you light the candle: it’s vegan, gluten‑free, and soy‑free by ingredients but contains peanuts/tree nuts and may pose cross‑contact considerations for strict allergen avoiders.
If you love sweet, frosting‑adjacent flavors and want plant protein without digestive drama from sugar alcohols, this is an easy yes. If you prefer subtle sweetness, oat‑y bases, or ultra‑low sugar, skip. Listicle takeaway: A cake‑flavored, soy‑free vegan bar with 15g of plant protein and no sugar alcohols—great as a sweet pre‑workout or pick‑me‑up, a bit too sweet and carb‑heavy for some.